David Lee Roth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Lee Roth
|
|
|---|---|
Roth in 2008
|
|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Diamond Dave |
| Born | October 10, 1954 Bloomington, Indiana, U.S. |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Labels |
|
David Lee Roth (born October 10, 1954) is an American rock singer famous for his wild and energetic stage performances. He was the original lead vocalist of the hard rock band Van Halen. He sang with the band from 1974 to 1985, again briefly in 1996, and from 2006 until the band ended in 2020.
Roth also had a successful solo career with several Gold and Platinum albums. He rejoined Van Halen in 2006 for a North American tour that became the most successful in the band's history. In 2007, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Van Halen. Some of his biggest solo hits include “California Girls,” “Yankee Rose,” and “Just Like Paradise.”
Contents
Early Life and Background
David Lee Roth was born in Bloomington, Indiana. His father, Nathan, was an eye doctor, and his mother, Sibyl, was a teacher. His family has Jewish roots, and his grandparents came to the U.S. from Russia. From a young age, Roth was interested in art, movies, and radio.
He spent part of his childhood in New Castle, Indiana. He later said that the work ethic of Van Halen came from this Midwest background. When he was a teenager, his family moved to Pasadena, California.
While attending Pasadena City College, he met the brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen. During this time, Roth also worked as a hospital orderly, helping with patient care.
Career with Van Halen
As a teenager, Roth sang in a rock band called the Red Ball Jets. Another local band, Mammoth, featured Alex Van Halen on drums and Eddie Van Halen on guitar. Mammoth sometimes rented equipment from Roth's band. After a few tries, Roth joined Mammoth as their lead singer.
In 1974, Roth suggested they change the band's name to Van Halen. He thought it was a powerful name that would give them a strong identity. The band played original songs and covers, becoming popular in the Los Angeles area.
In 1977, Warner Bros. Records signed Van Halen to a record deal. Their first album, Van Halen, came out in 1978 and was a huge success. It sold over 12 million copies and made the band famous across the country.
For the next five years, Van Halen recorded four more hit albums. Roth was known for his energetic stage presence and played a key role in the band's image and business decisions. His fun lyrics and powerful voice worked perfectly with Eddie Van Halen's amazing guitar skills. This combination helped the band's 1984 album, 1984, reach #1 on the charts.
Over time, creative differences grew between Roth and Eddie Van Halen. Roth enjoyed making fun, party-style rock songs, while Eddie wanted to explore deeper and more complex music. In 1985, Roth released a solo EP called Crazy from the Heat. A few months later, he officially left Van Halen to start his own solo career.
Reunions with Van Halen
In June 1996, Roth briefly reunited with Van Halen to record two new songs for their Best Of – Volume I album. One of the songs, "Me Wise Magic," became a No. 1 rock hit. However, the reunion didn't last, and the band hired a different singer.
In 2001, there were rumors of another reunion, but nothing came of it at the time. The band did release remastered versions of their first six albums.
Successful Solo Career
.jpg)
After leaving Van Halen in 1985, Roth formed a new band with amazing musicians. It included guitarist Steve Vai, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Gregg Bissonette. His first solo album, Eat 'Em and Smile (1986), was a huge success. It sold over 2 million copies in the U.S.
His next album, Skyscraper (1988), was also a hit and featured the popular single "Just Like Paradise". The tour for this album was a big production. At each show, Roth would surf over the audience on a suspended surfboard.
In 1991, Roth released his third album, A Little Ain't Enough. It featured the young guitar genius Jason Becker. Sadly, Becker was diagnosed with ALS and couldn't tour. The rise of grunge rock in the early 1990s changed music tastes, and Roth's style of hard rock became less popular for a time.
In 1994, Roth released the album Your Filthy Little Mouth. In 1998, he released DLR Band, which critics praised as a return to his rock roots.
Return to Van Halen
.jpg)
On January 24, 2007, it was officially announced that Roth would rejoin Van Halen for a major tour. The tour was a massive success, earning over $93 million and playing for nearly one million fans across North America.
In 2012, the band released a new album with Roth called A Different Kind of Truth, their first together in 28 years. They followed it with another successful tour. In 2015, they released a live album, Tokyo Dome Live in Concert.
Van Halen's journey came to an end after Eddie Van Halen passed away from cancer on October 6, 2020.
Recent Projects
In early 2020, Roth toured as the opening act for the band Kiss. The tour was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October 2021, Roth announced he would retire after a series of shows in Las Vegas. However, these final shows were canceled. He then released several new songs online that he had recorded years earlier with guitarist John 5.
After a five-year break from the stage, Roth performed at the M3 Rock Festival in Maryland on May 3, 2025. He played a set full of Van Halen classics and announced a U.S. tour for the summer of 2025.
Personal Life
Roth has never been married. He is a skilled martial artist and has been training in kenjutsu (a type of Japanese swordsmanship) since he was 12. He is also a licensed private helicopter pilot.
In the late 1990s, Roth trained to become an emergency medical technician (EMT) in New York City. He said he went on over 200 ambulance rides, wanting to help people in a different way.
Roth is also a visual artist who creates paintings and drawings. He has homes in Los Angeles, New York City, and Tokyo.
Solo band members
- Guitars Steve Vai (1986–1989)
- Bass guitar Billy Sheehan (1986–1988)
- Percussion Gregg Bissonette (1986–1989)
Band member timeline
Guitar
- Al Estrada - lead guitar (2019–present)
- Jake Faun - rhythm guitar (2020)
- Frankie Lindia - rhythm guitar (2020)
- Brian Young - lead guitar (2002–2006)
- Toshi Hiketa - rhythm guitar (2003–2006)
- Bart Walsh (1999–2001) (died 2019)
- Mike Hartman (1998) (died 2000)
- John 5 (1998, 2012, 2019)
- Steve Hunter (1990–1992, 1997)
- Terry Kilgore (1993–1994)
- Rocket Ritchotte (1993–1994)
- Joe Holmes (1991–1992)
- Desi Rexx (1991, a few shows in Europe only)
- Jason Becker (1990–1991)
- Steve Vai (1985–1989)
Bass guitar
- Ryan Wheeler (2020–present)
- Todd Jensen (1990–1991, 1999–2000, 2004–2006)
- James LoMenzo (2001–2004)
- B'urbon Bob (1998)—pseudonym for John 5
- John Regan (1994)
- James Hunting (1993–1994)
- Matt Bissonette (1988–1990)
- Billy Sheehan (1985–1988)
Drums
- Francis Valentino (2020–present)
- Mike Musselman (2019–2020)
- Jimmy DeGrasso (2006)
- Ray Luzier (1997–2000, 2001–2005)
- Ron Wikso (1993–1994)
- Larry Aberman (1994)
- Joseph Hudson (1993–1994, 1995–1997)
- Gregg Bissonette (1985–1992)
Keyboard
- Danny Wagner (2020–present)
- Marcus Margand II (2000–2001)
- Patrick Howard I (1998–1999)
- Billy Thompson (1996–1998)
- Richard Hilton (1994–1995)
- Brett Tuggle (1988–1994, 1997) (died 2022)
- Jesse Harms (1986)
Discography
Studio albums
- Eat 'Em and Smile (1986)
- Skyscraper (1988)
- A Little Ain't Enough (1991)
- Your Filthy Little Mouth (1994)
- DLR Band (1998)
- Diamond Dave (2003)
Extended plays
- Crazy from the Heat (1985)
with Van Halen
- Van Halen (1978)
- Van Halen II (1979)
- Women and Children First (1980)
- Fair Warning (1981)
- Diver Down (1982)
- 1984 (1984)
- A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
Books
- Crazy from the Heat (1997)
See also
In Spanish: David Lee Roth para niños
